Doom and gloom at AAP

New Delhi: Finally, Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi party expelled its four dissident leaders for carrying anti-party activities. Yogendra Yadav, Prashant Bhushan, Professor Anand Kumar and Amit Jha who had waged open war against party leadership were sacked by party disciplinary committee on Monday night.

The decision to throw out the trio, along with Ajit Jha, was taken at a marathon meeting attended mostly by leaders close to Delhi chief minister Kejriwal, hours after Yadav and Bhushan replied to show-cause notices and criticised the AAP leadership for attempting to stifle dissent within the party and alleged Ashish Khetan and Pankaj Gupta for receiving money.

“The National Disciplinary Committee carefully considered responses furnished by Yogendra Yadav, Prashant Bhushan and Anand Kumar and found them unsatisfactory,” said a statement from the party.

“The Committee reached the unanimous conclusion that they had indulged in gross indiscipline and anti-party activities. They have violated the Code of Conduct detailed in the party’s constitution.”

Reacting on the party’s decision to sack them, Bhushan on Tuesday said sarcastically, referring to the arbitrary manner in which the party removed them, “Party has become a Khap Panchayat, ruled by dictator. Everyone will have to follow the diktat; otherwise they will face tough conseque.”

Bhushan further attacked Kejriwal’s loyalist for acting like a pawn. He said, “Some AAP leaders have mortgaged their shame and will do anything for their leader”.

In a direct attack on the AAP chief, Bhushan said all decisions in the party were now being “taken by a dictator and his coterie”.

Reacting on their expulsion both the leaders said that they felt sad at the expulsion but were relieved at the same time as the “drama” is now over.

Yadav and Bhushan said they would carry forward the Swaraj Abhiyaan they had started with young party supporters, but did not go into specifics.

Following a series of allegations, ‘sting’ operations, counter-allegations, news of reconciliation, and the expulsion of two of the party’s former front-runners from the PAC, AAP’s troubles have now spilled out into the open and strewn all over the public domain. After Yadav and Bhushan addressed an ‘open letter’ to party convener Kejriwal, they organised a press conference to fill the public in on their version of the many issues within the party.

If their version of events is anything to go by, Yadav and Bhushan are of the opinion that Kejriwal is more aam dictator than aadmi, miffed at anyone who dares to question his decisions. With great despair ringing in his voice, Anand Kumar, a party member said, “This is what things have come to. We have to speak to Arvind ji through the media, through a press conference.”

According to political analysts these two leaders are veterans and are founding members who could unleash enough harm on the two-year-old party.

These two leaders may pose risk to hard earned credibility of the party. Here is the dissection of how these rebel leaders could damage party’s future prospects.

Can party ill-afford Prashant Bhushan?

Arvind Kejriwal-led party will definitely feel the heat now as Bhushan was the man who helped Kejriwal garner the image of anti-crusader. 

Bhushan used to file PILs against important scams and handed over the important documents to Kejriwal.  Kejriwal then used to call up press conferences to expose the whole matter publicly.  Bhushan’s image is like one who took cudgel against corruption, so any tough action against him will hurt the party’s image. 

Bhushan is well aware of all the small details and developments within the party. After expelled from the party, disgruntled Bhushan may expose many deep secrets of the party. 

The Yogendra effect

Now that Yadav has been shown the exit door, he may act against party. Yadav will spread the message that he has been removed for raising voice against Kejriwal and for the principles of transparency on which the party was formed.

Yadav will garner emotional support as people know that he was asking for democratic process in the party, which didn’t augur well to the AAP chief.  Sulking Yadav may not leave single stone unturned to malign Kejriwal and his loyalists. 

How will Kejriwal benefit?

After the exit of these two dissenters, Arvind Kejriwal will definitely feel a big sigh of relief.  After their removal, a straight message will go to all the party workers that rebel voices have no place in the party.  Kejriwal’s position within the party will further get strengthened.

AAP won a landslide victory in the Delhi polls barely two months ago but has since been embroiled in a bitter internal feud, with a series of leaked letters establishing the presence of two camps — one supporting Kejriwal and another comprising Yadav, Bhushan and others who accuse the chief minister of being dictatorial.

Leaders close to Kejriwal have accused the rebels of working against the party before the elections and conspiring to remove the chief minister as the party convenor.